Saturday, July 10, 2010

Death

Today, early in the morning while she was resting, Joan Parets died.

My husband's mother, my mother-in-law, my friend died.

We found out when Linda, my sister-in-law, called this morning.

This wasn't supposed to happen. She was getting better. We were actually getting ready to go home - the first time a month for Matt.

But things change.

Today has been a day. There is no go to "how to handle with a parent dies" list. The practical stuff was already in motion - most of those decisions she helped make a long time. Thank you for that Joan, not having to worry about if you wanted a funeral or where you wanted to be buried took away some of the burden.

But there was still much to do. Flights to arrange, plans to make, clothes to buy, tears to shed, meals to eat and family to meet and grieve with.

I only touched my camera for a few moments today. I went outside a few hours after hearing the news to get some fresh air. Squirrel met me outside and spent a few moments with me. My mother in law loved animals, so I took this a message from her. Some love and comfort on an impossibly hard day.

Squirrel

Squirrel

Squirrel

Squirrel

Rest in peace Joan.

Friday, July 9, 2010

The last day before 189/365

I'm blogging these about a month late. I'm post dating them so I don't mess up my organization, but there is a big surreal factor. Why you ask? Because the reason I'm a month behind on blogging - the sudden death of my mother in law. She has been ill, but we were expecting a recovery, not this.

These were the last pictures I took of what is now forever known as "Before". She died a few hours after these were taken.

They aren't anything special. In fact - they are really quite sub par. That's because I had just driven into Miami for  what felt like the hundredth time that summer. I was there to visit my mother in law and pick up my husband who hadn't been home in a month. He had been in Miami for weeks - visiting with his mom every day. Since she had recently been moved out of the ICU into a regular room, he was going to come home for a few days. We were leaving the next day, so I just went out the back yard and took a few quick pics.

A quick picture of my husband

Matt

Aloe flowers

Aloe

Yard art

Yard art

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Fun in the pool! 188/365

Fun in the pool

Fun in the pool

Big splashes!

Fun in the pool

Fun in the pool

Fun in the pool

I love these two!

Fun in the pool

Fun in the pool

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Garden update 187/365

With my unexpected absence this summer, my garden is taking a beating. But some things are persevering.

Garden Update

Garden Update

As far as the veggie garden goes, my only true success has been marigolds. But I'm really great at those!

Garden Update

What's left of my tomato

Garden Update

Morning glory

Garden Update

Cucumbers

Garden Update

Garden Update

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Stormy weather

Stormy weather moving in

Rain

Monday, July 5, 2010

David's House 186/365

David got the wall in his master bedroom refinished today and it looks great.

New plaster on the walls

David's house

David's house


He also has a hole in the wall

David in a hole

Hole in the wall

Hole in the wall

Hole in the wall

Kitchen cabinets

David's kitchen cabinets

Sunday, July 4, 2010

4th of July 185/365

Friends, family and fireworks - it's what makes the 4th of July so fantastic.

4th of July

Danny's very cool Craftsman grill tools

4th of July - Craftsman Grilling tools

4th of July - Craftsman Grilling tools

Friends and family

4th of July - BBQ

4th of July - Family and friends

4th of July

David - being goofy

4th of July - David

4th of July - David

4th of July - David

David and mom

4th of July - Mom &  David

Lavonia

4th of July - Lavonia

Roger

4th of July - Roger

Desi

4th of July - Desi

The lovely centerpiece we had - yummy too.

4th of July

4th of July

Fireworks

4th of July Fireworks

4th of July Fireworks

4th of July Fireworks

4th of July Fireworks

4th of July Fireworks

4th of July Fireworks

Watching them

Watching 4th of July Fireworks

More fireworks

4th of July Fireworks

4th of July Fireworks

4th of July Fireworks

4th of July Fireworks

4th of July Fireworks

4th of July Fireworks

4th of July Fireworks

4th of July Fireworks

4th of July Fireworks

4th of July Fireworks

4th of July Fireworks

4th of July Fireworks

4th of July Fireworks

4th of July Fireworks

4th of July Fireworks

4th of July Fireworks

4th of July Fireworks

4th of July Fireworks

4th of July Fireworks